After the Lake Garda Marathon: Limone and Riva by Boat

The Route: Malcesine → Limone → Riva del Garda → Malcesine Logistics: Public ferries link Malcesine, Limone and Riva. Journeys take roughly 20 to 40 minutes per leg, depending on the type of boat. The runner shuttle does not carry companions, and this is a separate public service. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Malcesine ──(ferry)──> Limone ──(ferry)──> Riva del Garda ──(ferry)──> Malcesine

The Lake Garda 42 route runs on roads that runners can see and boat passengers can also see, from a different angle. A ferry day covers the start town, Limone, and the northern turning point, Riva. It costs no walking effort beyond stepping on and off the boat, which is what a marathon recovery day should look like.

April on the lake: cool and often clear, with daytime temperatures of about 12 to 17 °C and a stiff wind on the water. On the ferry deck it can feel colder than on the shore. Bring a windproof layer.

Ferries on Lake Garda are run by the state navigation authority, and the spring timetable is usually less frequent than the summer one. Check the current sailing times and the last boat back before you set out, and buy tickets at the pier. Note that a day pass may be cheaper than single fares if you make several hops.

The day

Limone sul Garda is the race start. The old town is a narrow lakeside village of stone lanes with terraces of lemon houses, the limonaie, climbing the hillside. They are glass-roofed, stepped terraces once used to grow lemons at the northern limit of their range. Some are open to visitors, so check the days. The lakefront is flat and short.

The boat to Riva del Garda continues to the northern end of the lake. Riva has a flat promenade, a medieval harbour with a tower, the Torre Apponale, and a wide, level old town of arcades and squares. The setting is mountain-ringed and windy, and it is popular with windsurfers. A slow walk along the waterfront is enough. Check whether the tower is open.

Lunch in Riva is straightforward. Choose a place with lake fish or Trentino dishes, and check that the kitchen is open.

Getting back

Take the ferry back to Malcesine and check the last sailing. Leave a buffer in case a boat is cancelled by wind. If you are staying elsewhere on the lake, use the same timetable to plan your return.